ldquoYou can and should set your own limits and clearly articulate them This takes courage but it is also liberating and empowering and often earns you new respectrdquo Rosalind Brewer President and CEO of Samrsquos Cluba division of WalshyMart Stores IncExpanding horizons for women have led to a broad vista of opportunities maximising their involvement in previously maleshydominated professions such as the building construction sector The phenomenal growth in thenumber of practising women landscape architects in the last century reinforces the possibilities that this industry offers to our gender in particular Though women in landscape architecture find themselves in minority insenior positions or at site in particular however they have already carved a niche in creating sensitive designs quality consciousness through attention to detail and time and team management Their arduous journey in alargely patriarchal (though attempting to be more liberal) urban Indian society has lent them the distinction of managing a duality of tradion and modern making them more sensitive to a gendershyinclusive approache indesign This paper looks at various projects that have been carried out by Delhi based landscape firm Beyond Built Pvt Ltd lead and comprising mainly of women Adopting a research based philosophy the firm has beeninvolved with a wide range of design research and awareness building projects in the realm of contemporary and historic landscape designThe past half a century has seen Indian women expand their career ambitions and spread their wings towards professions and roles previously inaccessible to them for a multitude of factorsAs a result the 21st century has seen greater integration of Indian women in male dominated fields like building construction architecture and related design fields The progression from integration into acceptance andequality is however a longer and more arduous journey

Fig

1a_Enhancing public spaces through waterfront developmentWhile few women landscape architects or firms engage in the public realm preferring the private or corporate sector for their more intellectual engagement it is design in public domain in particular that can benefittremendously from involvement of our gender ensuring sensitivity understanding and inclusivity Consideration for every age group socio cultural background and physical ability in our society is the need of the hour inorder to offer equitable and healthy usershyfriendly spaces Designing of public parks water front development (Refer Fig 1a amp b) and ecological conservation greening of slums are some of the areas where we can aspire tolsquomake a differencersquo

Fig 1b_Waterfront development

This article offers an opportunity for personal reminiscing looking back at a professional journey that commenced 25 years ago when I chose to take up education in this field Through nearly two decades of workexperience I have witnessed a progression from primarily individual client based to corporate led projects from landscape architecture working with the natural landscape to designing largely on basement slabs from rusticnatural materials and aesthetics toworking with a glossy palette and fascades Changing client needs and contexts have had a deep impact on our profession and ethos aspiring to be viewed as a new and upcoming nationto be reckoned with Tall skyscrapers glazed cities exotic plantations and a passion for the global has taken our drawing boards by storm However now after two decades of engagement with the upper echelons ofsociety there is a new realisation that our profession needs to engage with the larger community if we are to make any difference to our chaotic urban environments It is now the decade of lsquodesigning with a consciencersquoThrough this article I piece together my journey as a landscape and heritage practitioner and an attempt to delve into my personal experience of operating in this sector and how gender has influenced my practice along thewayShared ownership and accountabilityshy

A perspective that I bring into my practice which is also the result of over 16 years of part time academic engagement is the need to hinge our design philosophy on intense research This is applicable for historic projectsbut the methodology equally informs our contemporary works Over time the project typology that one has been engaging with has evolved A design project that caters to society by its very nature needs to be inclusiveresponding to needs across users and aspirations serving all target groups including children the elderly and the disabled Details such as lighting signage and elements for visual comfort contribute towards creating usershyfriendly environmentsNot one for malls myself working on a Multishyuse development work in Chandigarh named Elante for Larsen amp Toubro brought in the realisation of their possible relevance as future public open spaces for our aspiringyouth

Fig 2a_Central court Elante Mall Chandigarh

Elante a multishyuse development required the design of an expansive Central Court (measuring approximately 80000 sq ft) to serve as a social nucleus for the retail and office spaces Our vision for Elante was to create acommon civic space inside a shopping mall that encourages meaningful social experiences that are reflect our cultural ethos This project is designed as a play of contrasts While the architecture is aimed at grandeur thelandscape is intended to be on a human scale The design concept envisions a democratic landscape lsquofor the peoplersquo (Fig 2a)

It is important to provide orientation and identities within the larger space therefore a set of smaller courts were built into the design of the main plaza These intimate spaces were woven around differential slab levelsstairwell and light well cutshyouts as the site demanded What emerged is a range of experiences within the greater whole The Central Court therefore encompasses a collection of spaces some to facilitate culturalperformances and larger gatherings and others for passive recreation and for children of a scale and design meant for hosting more intimate events

Fig 2b_Pathways and seating Elante Mall

With accessibility becoming a central concern in outdoor recreation ramps have been incorporated leading up to major spaces The edges of all the plazas are treated such that they form backdrops or alternate as seatingor planters thereby scaling down the large central plaza into usable and interactive segments The retaining walls for the large planted areas are designed with niches for seating using unembellished cuboid forms to add tothe simplicity of the landscape The material palette on the other hand uses fine craftsmanship central to Indian design and is used to make the court visually cohesive and compelling As with the central space thepaving pattern directs movement and uses a variety of textures to create visual interest (Fig 2b and c)

Fig 2c_Planting beds and seating in central court at Elante Mall

Elante is a unique project in our repertoire of works due to the vision of shared responsibility vital to the project We took on an added responsibility on the clientsrsquo request as supervision consultants This appointmentbeyond our design contract with the clients ensured complete answerability on our part while ensuring that civil and horticultural designs were executed to desired quality in the completed landscape This experiment atElante has shown us a new avenue to engage with projects to ensure quality is delivered through shared ownership and accountability (Prothi Khanna 2014)Project palette management and reportingshyAs very few of our gender make it to higher decision making positions in a predominantly male business environment thereby challenging the relevance of women as project managers for smooth execution of largeshyscaleprojects Though understated women bring to the table team spirit quality and time consciousness along with integrity and focus It was in such an environment while working as local landscape consultants on the DIALTerminal 3 project that we needed to forge collaborations and develop work strategies to ensure timely completion of deadlines with a focus on quality and detailing This was critical in order to achieve optimum utilization ofresources for both the client and consultants Clarity on each participantrsquos role and continuous collaboration brainstorming and interaction was the need of the hour for a cohesive contribution Spread across an area of 52million square feet and the third largest Terminal in the world the project in question at the time of inception in 2006shy07 was a trailblazer in scale and significance and was conceived keeping in mind an integratedapproach to infrastructure development in the developing world Taken up during the Commonwealth Games 2010 the added complexity of time management gave rise to new challenges in project execution

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig

1a_Enhancing public spaces through waterfront developmentWhile few women landscape architects or firms engage in the public realm preferring the private or corporate sector for their more intellectual engagement it is design in public domain in particular that can benefittremendously from involvement of our gender ensuring sensitivity understanding and inclusivity Consideration for every age group socio cultural background and physical ability in our society is the need of the hour inorder to offer equitable and healthy usershyfriendly spaces Designing of public parks water front development (Refer Fig 1a amp b) and ecological conservation greening of slums are some of the areas where we can aspire tolsquomake a differencersquo

Fig 1b_Waterfront development

This article offers an opportunity for personal reminiscing looking back at a professional journey that commenced 25 years ago when I chose to take up education in this field Through nearly two decades of workexperience I have witnessed a progression from primarily individual client based to corporate led projects from landscape architecture working with the natural landscape to designing largely on basement slabs from rusticnatural materials and aesthetics toworking with a glossy palette and fascades Changing client needs and contexts have had a deep impact on our profession and ethos aspiring to be viewed as a new and upcoming nationto be reckoned with Tall skyscrapers glazed cities exotic plantations and a passion for the global has taken our drawing boards by storm However now after two decades of engagement with the upper echelons ofsociety there is a new realisation that our profession needs to engage with the larger community if we are to make any difference to our chaotic urban environments It is now the decade of lsquodesigning with a consciencersquoThrough this article I piece together my journey as a landscape and heritage practitioner and an attempt to delve into my personal experience of operating in this sector and how gender has influenced my practice along thewayShared ownership and accountabilityshy

A perspective that I bring into my practice which is also the result of over 16 years of part time academic engagement is the need to hinge our design philosophy on intense research This is applicable for historic projectsbut the methodology equally informs our contemporary works Over time the project typology that one has been engaging with has evolved A design project that caters to society by its very nature needs to be inclusiveresponding to needs across users and aspirations serving all target groups including children the elderly and the disabled Details such as lighting signage and elements for visual comfort contribute towards creating usershyfriendly environmentsNot one for malls myself working on a Multishyuse development work in Chandigarh named Elante for Larsen amp Toubro brought in the realisation of their possible relevance as future public open spaces for our aspiringyouth

Fig 2a_Central court Elante Mall Chandigarh

Elante a multishyuse development required the design of an expansive Central Court (measuring approximately 80000 sq ft) to serve as a social nucleus for the retail and office spaces Our vision for Elante was to create acommon civic space inside a shopping mall that encourages meaningful social experiences that are reflect our cultural ethos This project is designed as a play of contrasts While the architecture is aimed at grandeur thelandscape is intended to be on a human scale The design concept envisions a democratic landscape lsquofor the peoplersquo (Fig 2a)

It is important to provide orientation and identities within the larger space therefore a set of smaller courts were built into the design of the main plaza These intimate spaces were woven around differential slab levelsstairwell and light well cutshyouts as the site demanded What emerged is a range of experiences within the greater whole The Central Court therefore encompasses a collection of spaces some to facilitate culturalperformances and larger gatherings and others for passive recreation and for children of a scale and design meant for hosting more intimate events

Fig 2b_Pathways and seating Elante Mall

With accessibility becoming a central concern in outdoor recreation ramps have been incorporated leading up to major spaces The edges of all the plazas are treated such that they form backdrops or alternate as seatingor planters thereby scaling down the large central plaza into usable and interactive segments The retaining walls for the large planted areas are designed with niches for seating using unembellished cuboid forms to add tothe simplicity of the landscape The material palette on the other hand uses fine craftsmanship central to Indian design and is used to make the court visually cohesive and compelling As with the central space thepaving pattern directs movement and uses a variety of textures to create visual interest (Fig 2b and c)

Fig 2c_Planting beds and seating in central court at Elante Mall

Elante is a unique project in our repertoire of works due to the vision of shared responsibility vital to the project We took on an added responsibility on the clientsrsquo request as supervision consultants This appointmentbeyond our design contract with the clients ensured complete answerability on our part while ensuring that civil and horticultural designs were executed to desired quality in the completed landscape This experiment atElante has shown us a new avenue to engage with projects to ensure quality is delivered through shared ownership and accountability (Prothi Khanna 2014)Project palette management and reportingshyAs very few of our gender make it to higher decision making positions in a predominantly male business environment thereby challenging the relevance of women as project managers for smooth execution of largeshyscaleprojects Though understated women bring to the table team spirit quality and time consciousness along with integrity and focus It was in such an environment while working as local landscape consultants on the DIALTerminal 3 project that we needed to forge collaborations and develop work strategies to ensure timely completion of deadlines with a focus on quality and detailing This was critical in order to achieve optimum utilization ofresources for both the client and consultants Clarity on each participantrsquos role and continuous collaboration brainstorming and interaction was the need of the hour for a cohesive contribution Spread across an area of 52million square feet and the third largest Terminal in the world the project in question at the time of inception in 2006shy07 was a trailblazer in scale and significance and was conceived keeping in mind an integratedapproach to infrastructure development in the developing world Taken up during the Commonwealth Games 2010 the added complexity of time management gave rise to new challenges in project execution

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig 1b_Waterfront development

This article offers an opportunity for personal reminiscing looking back at a professional journey that commenced 25 years ago when I chose to take up education in this field Through nearly two decades of workexperience I have witnessed a progression from primarily individual client based to corporate led projects from landscape architecture working with the natural landscape to designing largely on basement slabs from rusticnatural materials and aesthetics toworking with a glossy palette and fascades Changing client needs and contexts have had a deep impact on our profession and ethos aspiring to be viewed as a new and upcoming nationto be reckoned with Tall skyscrapers glazed cities exotic plantations and a passion for the global has taken our drawing boards by storm However now after two decades of engagement with the upper echelons ofsociety there is a new realisation that our profession needs to engage with the larger community if we are to make any difference to our chaotic urban environments It is now the decade of lsquodesigning with a consciencersquoThrough this article I piece together my journey as a landscape and heritage practitioner and an attempt to delve into my personal experience of operating in this sector and how gender has influenced my practice along thewayShared ownership and accountabilityshy

A perspective that I bring into my practice which is also the result of over 16 years of part time academic engagement is the need to hinge our design philosophy on intense research This is applicable for historic projectsbut the methodology equally informs our contemporary works Over time the project typology that one has been engaging with has evolved A design project that caters to society by its very nature needs to be inclusiveresponding to needs across users and aspirations serving all target groups including children the elderly and the disabled Details such as lighting signage and elements for visual comfort contribute towards creating usershyfriendly environmentsNot one for malls myself working on a Multishyuse development work in Chandigarh named Elante for Larsen amp Toubro brought in the realisation of their possible relevance as future public open spaces for our aspiringyouth

Fig 2a_Central court Elante Mall Chandigarh

Elante a multishyuse development required the design of an expansive Central Court (measuring approximately 80000 sq ft) to serve as a social nucleus for the retail and office spaces Our vision for Elante was to create acommon civic space inside a shopping mall that encourages meaningful social experiences that are reflect our cultural ethos This project is designed as a play of contrasts While the architecture is aimed at grandeur thelandscape is intended to be on a human scale The design concept envisions a democratic landscape lsquofor the peoplersquo (Fig 2a)

It is important to provide orientation and identities within the larger space therefore a set of smaller courts were built into the design of the main plaza These intimate spaces were woven around differential slab levelsstairwell and light well cutshyouts as the site demanded What emerged is a range of experiences within the greater whole The Central Court therefore encompasses a collection of spaces some to facilitate culturalperformances and larger gatherings and others for passive recreation and for children of a scale and design meant for hosting more intimate events

Fig 2b_Pathways and seating Elante Mall

With accessibility becoming a central concern in outdoor recreation ramps have been incorporated leading up to major spaces The edges of all the plazas are treated such that they form backdrops or alternate as seatingor planters thereby scaling down the large central plaza into usable and interactive segments The retaining walls for the large planted areas are designed with niches for seating using unembellished cuboid forms to add tothe simplicity of the landscape The material palette on the other hand uses fine craftsmanship central to Indian design and is used to make the court visually cohesive and compelling As with the central space thepaving pattern directs movement and uses a variety of textures to create visual interest (Fig 2b and c)

Fig 2c_Planting beds and seating in central court at Elante Mall

Elante is a unique project in our repertoire of works due to the vision of shared responsibility vital to the project We took on an added responsibility on the clientsrsquo request as supervision consultants This appointmentbeyond our design contract with the clients ensured complete answerability on our part while ensuring that civil and horticultural designs were executed to desired quality in the completed landscape This experiment atElante has shown us a new avenue to engage with projects to ensure quality is delivered through shared ownership and accountability (Prothi Khanna 2014)Project palette management and reportingshyAs very few of our gender make it to higher decision making positions in a predominantly male business environment thereby challenging the relevance of women as project managers for smooth execution of largeshyscaleprojects Though understated women bring to the table team spirit quality and time consciousness along with integrity and focus It was in such an environment while working as local landscape consultants on the DIALTerminal 3 project that we needed to forge collaborations and develop work strategies to ensure timely completion of deadlines with a focus on quality and detailing This was critical in order to achieve optimum utilization ofresources for both the client and consultants Clarity on each participantrsquos role and continuous collaboration brainstorming and interaction was the need of the hour for a cohesive contribution Spread across an area of 52million square feet and the third largest Terminal in the world the project in question at the time of inception in 2006shy07 was a trailblazer in scale and significance and was conceived keeping in mind an integratedapproach to infrastructure development in the developing world Taken up during the Commonwealth Games 2010 the added complexity of time management gave rise to new challenges in project execution

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

A perspective that I bring into my practice which is also the result of over 16 years of part time academic engagement is the need to hinge our design philosophy on intense research This is applicable for historic projectsbut the methodology equally informs our contemporary works Over time the project typology that one has been engaging with has evolved A design project that caters to society by its very nature needs to be inclusiveresponding to needs across users and aspirations serving all target groups including children the elderly and the disabled Details such as lighting signage and elements for visual comfort contribute towards creating usershyfriendly environmentsNot one for malls myself working on a Multishyuse development work in Chandigarh named Elante for Larsen amp Toubro brought in the realisation of their possible relevance as future public open spaces for our aspiringyouth

Fig 2a_Central court Elante Mall Chandigarh

Elante a multishyuse development required the design of an expansive Central Court (measuring approximately 80000 sq ft) to serve as a social nucleus for the retail and office spaces Our vision for Elante was to create acommon civic space inside a shopping mall that encourages meaningful social experiences that are reflect our cultural ethos This project is designed as a play of contrasts While the architecture is aimed at grandeur thelandscape is intended to be on a human scale The design concept envisions a democratic landscape lsquofor the peoplersquo (Fig 2a)

It is important to provide orientation and identities within the larger space therefore a set of smaller courts were built into the design of the main plaza These intimate spaces were woven around differential slab levelsstairwell and light well cutshyouts as the site demanded What emerged is a range of experiences within the greater whole The Central Court therefore encompasses a collection of spaces some to facilitate culturalperformances and larger gatherings and others for passive recreation and for children of a scale and design meant for hosting more intimate events

Fig 2b_Pathways and seating Elante Mall

With accessibility becoming a central concern in outdoor recreation ramps have been incorporated leading up to major spaces The edges of all the plazas are treated such that they form backdrops or alternate as seatingor planters thereby scaling down the large central plaza into usable and interactive segments The retaining walls for the large planted areas are designed with niches for seating using unembellished cuboid forms to add tothe simplicity of the landscape The material palette on the other hand uses fine craftsmanship central to Indian design and is used to make the court visually cohesive and compelling As with the central space thepaving pattern directs movement and uses a variety of textures to create visual interest (Fig 2b and c)

Fig 2c_Planting beds and seating in central court at Elante Mall

Elante is a unique project in our repertoire of works due to the vision of shared responsibility vital to the project We took on an added responsibility on the clientsrsquo request as supervision consultants This appointmentbeyond our design contract with the clients ensured complete answerability on our part while ensuring that civil and horticultural designs were executed to desired quality in the completed landscape This experiment atElante has shown us a new avenue to engage with projects to ensure quality is delivered through shared ownership and accountability (Prothi Khanna 2014)Project palette management and reportingshyAs very few of our gender make it to higher decision making positions in a predominantly male business environment thereby challenging the relevance of women as project managers for smooth execution of largeshyscaleprojects Though understated women bring to the table team spirit quality and time consciousness along with integrity and focus It was in such an environment while working as local landscape consultants on the DIALTerminal 3 project that we needed to forge collaborations and develop work strategies to ensure timely completion of deadlines with a focus on quality and detailing This was critical in order to achieve optimum utilization ofresources for both the client and consultants Clarity on each participantrsquos role and continuous collaboration brainstorming and interaction was the need of the hour for a cohesive contribution Spread across an area of 52million square feet and the third largest Terminal in the world the project in question at the time of inception in 2006shy07 was a trailblazer in scale and significance and was conceived keeping in mind an integratedapproach to infrastructure development in the developing world Taken up during the Commonwealth Games 2010 the added complexity of time management gave rise to new challenges in project execution

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

It is important to provide orientation and identities within the larger space therefore a set of smaller courts were built into the design of the main plaza These intimate spaces were woven around differential slab levelsstairwell and light well cutshyouts as the site demanded What emerged is a range of experiences within the greater whole The Central Court therefore encompasses a collection of spaces some to facilitate culturalperformances and larger gatherings and others for passive recreation and for children of a scale and design meant for hosting more intimate events

Fig 2b_Pathways and seating Elante Mall

With accessibility becoming a central concern in outdoor recreation ramps have been incorporated leading up to major spaces The edges of all the plazas are treated such that they form backdrops or alternate as seatingor planters thereby scaling down the large central plaza into usable and interactive segments The retaining walls for the large planted areas are designed with niches for seating using unembellished cuboid forms to add tothe simplicity of the landscape The material palette on the other hand uses fine craftsmanship central to Indian design and is used to make the court visually cohesive and compelling As with the central space thepaving pattern directs movement and uses a variety of textures to create visual interest (Fig 2b and c)

Fig 2c_Planting beds and seating in central court at Elante Mall

Elante is a unique project in our repertoire of works due to the vision of shared responsibility vital to the project We took on an added responsibility on the clientsrsquo request as supervision consultants This appointmentbeyond our design contract with the clients ensured complete answerability on our part while ensuring that civil and horticultural designs were executed to desired quality in the completed landscape This experiment atElante has shown us a new avenue to engage with projects to ensure quality is delivered through shared ownership and accountability (Prothi Khanna 2014)Project palette management and reportingshyAs very few of our gender make it to higher decision making positions in a predominantly male business environment thereby challenging the relevance of women as project managers for smooth execution of largeshyscaleprojects Though understated women bring to the table team spirit quality and time consciousness along with integrity and focus It was in such an environment while working as local landscape consultants on the DIALTerminal 3 project that we needed to forge collaborations and develop work strategies to ensure timely completion of deadlines with a focus on quality and detailing This was critical in order to achieve optimum utilization ofresources for both the client and consultants Clarity on each participantrsquos role and continuous collaboration brainstorming and interaction was the need of the hour for a cohesive contribution Spread across an area of 52million square feet and the third largest Terminal in the world the project in question at the time of inception in 2006shy07 was a trailblazer in scale and significance and was conceived keeping in mind an integratedapproach to infrastructure development in the developing world Taken up during the Commonwealth Games 2010 the added complexity of time management gave rise to new challenges in project execution

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig 2c_Planting beds and seating in central court at Elante Mall

Elante is a unique project in our repertoire of works due to the vision of shared responsibility vital to the project We took on an added responsibility on the clientsrsquo request as supervision consultants This appointmentbeyond our design contract with the clients ensured complete answerability on our part while ensuring that civil and horticultural designs were executed to desired quality in the completed landscape This experiment atElante has shown us a new avenue to engage with projects to ensure quality is delivered through shared ownership and accountability (Prothi Khanna 2014)Project palette management and reportingshyAs very few of our gender make it to higher decision making positions in a predominantly male business environment thereby challenging the relevance of women as project managers for smooth execution of largeshyscaleprojects Though understated women bring to the table team spirit quality and time consciousness along with integrity and focus It was in such an environment while working as local landscape consultants on the DIALTerminal 3 project that we needed to forge collaborations and develop work strategies to ensure timely completion of deadlines with a focus on quality and detailing This was critical in order to achieve optimum utilization ofresources for both the client and consultants Clarity on each participantrsquos role and continuous collaboration brainstorming and interaction was the need of the hour for a cohesive contribution Spread across an area of 52million square feet and the third largest Terminal in the world the project in question at the time of inception in 2006shy07 was a trailblazer in scale and significance and was conceived keeping in mind an integratedapproach to infrastructure development in the developing world Taken up during the Commonwealth Games 2010 the added complexity of time management gave rise to new challenges in project execution

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig 3a_Exterior landscape treatment at DIAL

The landscape design focused on establishing an environment with soothing planting schemes and large grassed berms as large expanses informal public spaces as an approach to the Terminal These green mounds areseen today as public recreation spots which are utilized by health enthusiasts and visitors alike in the early hours of the day as walking yoga and meditation spots (Fig 3 a and b) The idea of providing a barriershyfreeenvironment for various members of the society today sees the general populace enjoy this expanse as their own This offers a snippet of the culture of open spaces we aspire to introduce to our cities ndash informal inclusiveand inviting (Prothi Khanna and Gupta 2010)

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig 3b_Interior Landscape treatments at DIAL

Designing for diversityshyLandscape architecture provides the context in which the built environment exists Creating spaces that are sensitive to user experience is the core principle that guides our design philosophy in a range of projects Thespaces that we conceive have a strong influence on the quality of peoplersquos lives Decisions about the design planning and management of spaces can enhance or restrict a sense of belonging They can increase or reducefeelings of security stretch or limit boundaries promote or reduce mobility and provide or pollute a healthy environment They can also remove real and imagined barriers and foster greater understandingHousing projects are a particular genre where landscape design requires to cater to women centric need Community support looking over childrenrsquos play areas designing with the lsquoeyes on streetrsquo for enhanced security andsensitive interventions with regards to the use of facilities by ladies require to be addressedAn inclusive approach places people at the heart of the design process and celebrates diversity by providing for flexibility in use It offers new insights into the way people interact with the built environment and creates newopportunities to deploy creative and problemshysolving skills It also enables everyone to participate equally confidently and independently in everyday activities (Inclusion by Design 2008)

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

In India creating usable spaces for women in public areas requires the application of this approach in creative ways Waterwoods Apartments (2005) was a project conceived with a tightly knit community living built aroundthe concept of a central courtyard that creates a microshyclimate for the stay at home and working from home women in Bangalore The basic idea behind the design of this apartment complex was to create spaces andbuildings that people could use to form strong vibrant and sustainable communities

Fig 4a_Swimming pool at Waterwoods Apartments

BangaloreThe design of the central court for Waterwoods Apartments is a specific case Designed for a new developer receptive to innovative ideas the architectural design was modified in the design of the 1200 sq ft swimmingpool Earlier located on the surface we felt this to be against the grain of Indian tradition where it would be uncomfortable for the ladies on campus to be using the pool in full view of all apartments (Fig 4a)

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig 4b_Landscape treatments for Waterwoods

Apartments BangaloreWe were able to convince the clients for the pool to be taken to a lower level while still retaining the open to sky character to add privacy as well as to give visual access to the Health Club area In order to create someprivacy for each apartment planting on the basement slab was designed The issue of inverted beams and thus shallow planting depths on the deck slab were overcome by introducing taller planters over basementcolumns and creating a checker board language of softscapes and hardscapes (Fig 4 b and c)

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

Got some tips design ideas Share them with the community

Fig 4c_Outdoor seating arrangements at

Waterwoods Apartments BangaloreFuture for the Past Childrenrsquos activities undertaken by the Beyond Built TrustshyWe strive to exist in a culture where we can contribute to the profession and society at large In keeping with our aim to lsquomake a differencersquo Beyond Built Trust was established in early 2011 to contribute towards the field ofeducation and exchange of ideas and experiences Here we undertake awareness building activities for children in order to acquaint young minds with their rich cultural and natural heritage It is imperative to transfer thespark to future generations who are increasingly exposed to cultures other than our own Hence as a team of women professionals we began spearheading activities for children It is a known fact that learning by doing isa better way of comprehending a concept than conventional means of reading and listening With the objective of understanding and appreciation of onersquos culture urbanism and design this initiative is geared towardsdeveloping activities based on an exploration of what invokes curiosity in a childs mind (Figure 5 a and b) The main aim of conducting these activities is to ignite a childrsquos imagination towards our sharedheritageenvironmentcontext so they inherit a sense of pride and belonging towards our culture By using a vocabulary that is familiar to a child culture is simply portrayed as another aspect of everyday life not as anexternally induced entity This can be achieved by facilitating tools that evoke interest in the design of spaces and their comfort and livability

Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

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Fig 5b_Childrens activities at workshops conducted by BBTworkshop

ConclusionshyIn the last few decades more and more women are managing to break stereotypes and achieve greater success in their role as leading design professionals A number of women have finally been able to work their way upthe business ladder arriving to high ranking positions in some of the most renowned architectural firms of the world Women have shown the world how they can be great leaders and how their outlook towards theprofession is strikingly different from men due to their unique skills and leadership style Women designers have in particular received acclaim for putting people and ecology first in their problem solving approachAdvances in technology plus the evolving work and family roles of women in India have contributed to the business environment of the 21st century The changing roles of women have led to their greater participation in theemployment sector and consequent changes in many aspects of Indian life It was anticipated that increased labour force participation for women and subsequent participation in multiple roles would result in increasedstress Research studies have actually determined that the opposite is true Women who participate in multiple roles experience lower levels of stressshyrelated mental and physical problems and feel generally better thantheir cohorts who engage in fewer roles Current research supports the fact that employed women regardless of marital status reported greater happiness than the nonshyemployed women It confirms that employment has apositive effect for women and families (Jacobs and Schain nd)Despite this conclusion women still encounter a number of difficulties and misperceptions that affect their performance in the workplace This is particularly true for design professions like Construction and Architecture thathave a long history of maleshycentred existence Bringing in change requires a shift in outlook and attitude from a broad range of participants that includes clients consultants engineers contractors and labour This ishowever a longer process that can benefit from an even greater women involvement in the profession across all these participating agenciesAnother agent for change is the body of work that many women designers have created over the past few decades Today many women designers are inspiring others to steer landscape architecture towards a sustainableand inclusive future By creating holistic designs which respond to the character of their locale they have been able to produce robust schemes which address contemporary site conditions pressures of usage whileresponding to the rich historical and cultural context of the place Through a range of projects they have been able to demonstrate a mature and unique design perspective that has enriched the profession in new andcreative waysBibliographyshyInclusion by Design (2008) [ebook] London Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Available at httpswwwdesigncouncilorguksitesdefaultfilesassetdocumentinclusionshybyshydesignpdf [Accessed 22May 2015]Jacobs P and Schain L (nd) Professional Women The Continuing Struggle for Acceptance and Equality Journal of Academic and Business Ethics pp 98shy111 [online] Available athttpwwwaabricommanuscripts08056pdf [Accessed 24 May 2015]Prothi Khanna N and Gupta A (March 2010) Landscape development around Terminal 3 and Associated Works IFLA NewsletterProthi Khanna N (2014) Landscape Design for LampT Elante Multi Use Development Chandigarh JIIA

Research Assistant 1 Nikhil JoshiResearch Assistant 2 Shivani BhatnagarThis paper is part of the WIA publication brought out at the Women In Architecture Conference (httpwwwzingyhomescomeventsconferenceshywomenshyarchitectureshyindia) organized jointly by the IIA Northern Chapter SPAand SPA Alumni on June 06 2015

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